Vending machine



Sept- 12, 933- A. D. ANTOINE El AL VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l p 2-; 3 A. D. ANTOINE El AL I 1,926,662

I. VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill/ 1/ Sept". 1933' A. D. ANTOINE E1 AL vz'annme nonma- 3 She ets-Sheet 3 Filed D90. 23; 1929 Patented Sept, 12, 1933- 1,926,662 i w is c VENDING MACHINE: I t

' Alfred D. Antoine, Chicago, and Albert -E. Gebert,

Wilmette,'-Ill.,"assignors to Advance Machine 1 l Company, Chicago, Ill.,l a corporation of Illi A f nois" I Application necemberzs, i929 Serial No 415,92o U 86 Claims. (cram-9'1) Ihis invention relates to improvements in vending machines of the type embodying a chain or endless conveyor for the. articles of merchandise adapted to be intermittently actuated'upQn the insertion of a proper coin or check intothe machine, and operating to successively discharge or deliver the articles or merchandise therefrom when the article "reachesa-predetermined station.

' 1o A further object is to provide improved means responsive in its operationto the endless carrier whereby ata predetermined time in the cycle of operation of the mechanism, additional means will be rendered active toprevent the discharge of the coin from the coin carrier and cause the coin to be'returned to the-operator; e

A further object is to provide in a machine of this character an endless carrier for the merchandise, having a constantdirection of movement by the operator after a coin-has been n deposited therein, and improved means for adapting the carrier forIreverse 'movementfior facilitating' in filling or loading the carrier.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment-of other new and useful objects 'as will appear, the invention consistsin the features of a novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawingsillustrating this inventionand in which I this invention, Y A, v I t Figure 2 is a vertical sectional .view; taken on line 2-2, Figure3,,with parts omitted.

Figure Me a vertical sectional view taken on.

3-41, Figure 1, with parts omitted;

constructed in accordance with theprinciples oi Figure iisa'detail sectionalviewtaken. on llne 4-'4,Figure3. v a Figurei5 is an enlarged'detail sectional view showing the connection between the operating shaft and the-coin controlled mechanism- Figure dis a detail perspective view of a clutch. Figure I is anirregular sectional view taken on line 7 7, Figure 3, with parts omitted,

Figure ,8 is an enlarged detail'view,.part1y in elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, of the mechanismfor preventing the de livery of the coin into the machine from the coin carrier; v i y m v Figure!) is a detail sectional view taken on line ,-9--9; Figure 3, with parts omitted."

. J'Figure 1o. isa-detail view partly: in elevat on,

or openings 16, through'whichthe partly broken away parts omittedishdwing'the trip mechanism for controlling"thepartsf shown in Figure 8.'

'Beferring more particularly tothed'rawingsthe: numeral 15 designates generally acasing in which the mechanism is arranged and. which casingis provided in its front wall preferably with windows viewed, r The numeral l'ldesignatesgenerally a coin controlled mechanism having an operating k yhandle 18 by means or which the 'carrier maybe set into operation by the insertion oi as proper coin or check and i9 designates a delivery or ;discharge" opening through which the articles are s e edvl-l, f. I q J1; 1 Arranged within the casing 15 and spaced above" each other are tWOQSllDPOltS 295-121 and these supports are secured to the ;casing well-in any suitable manner preferably through the medium of a supporting plate 22 which restsagainst the o s m tte rear face of one 'o fthewalls of the casing and f prises overlapping sections 24 25 is providedior 'which plate inturn is "secured in-position by means of suitablejfastening screws 123. ;A; frame comprised of spaced members each of which 30111 supporting the carrierand these overlapping s'ections maybe "secured together for adjustment one with relation to the other by meansof. fastening devices 26, slots 2 72 3 being provided through thememb'er s, and throu hh" h-sl t h Figure l-is afront'elevation taken from the out-' g 0 S 6 Sup orts 20421 ass, the frame me bers n h' 1 side of the casingjof amachineof.this character"' p m Ibel anrz d ire I01. su

. Carried by the upper oiih jram members I -Mounted to rotate upon the shait-29 are spaced sprocket wheelsfi l, androtatabl'y supported upon the shaft 30 are corresponding sprocket wheels neath" each ,of the sprockets ;3 1.

formof a chain, comprising links 33pivota11ysecuredtogether pass over the respectiveco-qperating sprockets 31- 32, and carried by the links 33 are holders-34 preferably "in-the form; of

pockets forreceiving and conveyingthearticles or; merchandise 'v These pockets or holders 34" form the connection between the endlessmernbers 33 and. the 'links ,are iprovided withiprojec- The frame together s htjctaie sending the endless. flexible members thus 1 constructed 32,.ione of thesprocketsfiz being arrangedjbe- 3 dAn endless flexible member, preferably i ,tions 35 whichenter the spaces between the? teeth of the sprockets, 1

at f

are adapted to beplaced into and removed from the casing as a unit and to that end the slots 27-28 are provided whichpermit the-supports 21 to respectively pass therethrough, the'unit being held in position-by means of nuts; or collars 36 screwed on tojthe ends of the supports.--20,2 1. The slots 27-28 permit of a bodily adjustment of the unit in the casing 15 and the adjustability of the sections 2425 with respect to each other serve as a means whereby the endless flexible elements 33 may be adjusted or tightened.

Mounted in a suitable compartment in the casing 15 is a coin controlled mechanismdesignated generally by the reference'numeral 37 and which coin controlled mechanism may be of any desired or suitable construction. Suffice it to say that the coin controlled mechanismembodies a coin carrier 38 having a coin pocket or seat 39 therein. The carrier 38 is connected with the.

handle 18 so as to advance the coin when the latteris deposited into" the seat 39 through theopen- 'ing'40. The coin mechanism also embodies a recessed element 41 which is preferably angular cross'section and intowhich recess (see particularly Figure 5) a reduced extremity 42 of the shaft isadapted to enter. so that the shaft 30 will be given' one step of rotation upon each movement in one direction that is imparted to the handle 18 upon the insertion of a proper coin and thereby successively advance the pockets or -holders'34 to a position adjacent achute 43 that deliversthe article into thefdischarge chute or outlet 19.

When the *conveyoris provided with a package orfan' article in the holders '34- and a' proper coin deposited in the coin seat 39 of the carrier 38, one step of rotation will-be'givento the'shaft 30 and the coin will be deposited into the machine and will fall out of the pocket or seat 39 when the latter is inverted. This delivery'of the coin into the machine from the" coin carrier 38 is well known in this art andforms no part of the present invention. 1

In order to prevent the deposit of the coin from-the seat 39 into the machine and to cause the Same to be returned to the" operator when. there are no articles in the conveyor or carrier t'o be vended, means areprovided for retaining the coin within the seat 39 when the latterisinverted.

purpose. A simple and eflicient means, however, embodies a shaft 44 journaledinsuit'able bear- Any suitable"; means may be provided for'that ings 45 .(see' particularly Figure 9 the shaft being provided with an arm 46having a deflected extremity '47 and which extremity 4'7 is adapted" to bepositionedb'eneath the" coin48 in the coin seat 39, as shown-more clearly, in Figures '8; and 9, at predetermined times-in the cycle of operation of the mechanism;

. The shaft'44 is also provided with an"arm'49 the weight of the arm'49'being adapted to withdrawthe defiected'extremity 4'7 from? beneath the coin and permit the latter to drop into the machine, under normal conditions." 7 e When, however, the endless carrier assum'esfa predetermined position, the extremity 47013213116 shaft 44 is adapted to be positioned as shownin' Figure; 8. To that'end there provided a.

rock shaft 50 journaled in suitable-bearings 51 andhaving a deflected portion 52 projecting beneath the arm '49 as shown more clearly inFigure 7 7. The shaft 50 is also providedwithan' arm 53, theend thereof being arranged to stand withfintherpath of movement of a lugor projection -54 carried by. one of the links 33. so that-when the projection or lug 54: moves from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 10, it will engage the portion 53 of the shaft 50 to rock the latter and cause it in turn to rock the machine is to be refilled, it is desired that the endless carrier 33 may be moved in the opposite direction so as to properly position the lug 54 and at the same time position the pockets 34 to be "filled by'the attendant. To that end means "are provided whereby the endless carrier with its pockets or holders maybe released with respect to the coin controlled mechanism and. rotated in the opposite direction.

A simple and efficient means for accomplishing-this result will now be described. 'One of the sprocket wheels 32 is provided with a clutch face 55 (see particularly Figure'6) and mounted upon the shaft: 30 is a clutch member 57 secured to rotate therewith but for sliding movement thereuponabymeans of a key or feather connection 56, The clutch member57 is provided with a face 58 which co-operates with the clutch face 55.

A spring 59 encompasses the shaft 30 and bears at one end against the clutch member 57 and .at-the-Hother end against a. collar 60, and the spring 59 tends normally to movethe, clutch member 575111 a direction to engage and'co-op A erate with the clutch face 55 on the, sprocket .32. Thus thesprocket 32 will be locked tothe shaft'30 for rotation therewith. e i

-In order to;-,releas e theclutch to permit the endless -carrier'to be moved in the opposite direction a member 6l is-provided which hasfa yoke engaging in' a groove 62 in the clutch mem vber 57.- This member 62preferably slidesupon 'as'upplort or guide 63 which latter in turn is preferably {supported by the members 25 of the frame, and anoperating handle 64 is'connected "by means of a stem65 with the member 61. The handle: 64 is ilocated in :a convenient position for .the. operator preferably adjacent the outer face of one of the members 25 of the frame and between the runs of one of" the endless; carrier members 33. wwhen athe clutch member 57 is withdrawn 'so as: to disengage the clutch jface 55 on the sprocket'33,'and against the stress of the spring 59, it will be manifest that the endless carrier may be moved in either direction at thewill of the operator; so .long as'the clutch 1memberf57f'is thus heldt When, however, the

clutchmember is released the spring 59iwill move it into-co-operative 'relationiwith the clutch 55 of the sprocket 32'and the endless carrier will thenbe. locked-for rotation withthe shaft 30.

A -shield 66 is'pro'vided so as to form a'closure ice 7 its iio

for the open edges of the pockets or carrier 37 r :when the pockets or carriers are inverted and the shield is provided with an opening 6'7 therethrough which communicates with the chute 43 so that when-the openside of one of the pockets is in alinement with the opening 67 in-the shield 66 the contents of; the pocket will fallby" gravity W Y n n 1,926,662 therefrom through the opening 67 and into the chute 43.

While the preferred form of theinvention has been herein shown and described, it is to be, un-

' derstood that variouschanges may be .made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts; with-, in the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention. fWhat is claimed as new is:-

1. Avending machine embodying a casing, a frame therein, said frame embodying sections secured together for adjustment one with respect to the other, sprockets carried'bythe respective sections, endless conveyors passing over the sprockets, article holders connected with the sprockets, actuating means separatefrom said frame, an operative connection between the actuating means and one of said sprockets, for mov-' ingthe conveyors in one direction, said connection'embodying a clutch whereby the connection may be broken to allow the conveyorto be moved 5 in theopposite direction, and an operating'handle mounted upon said frarne for controlling the said clutch device.

2.'In a vendingmachine, a casing, a support ing structure, a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced sprockets mounted upon said structure, endless flexible members passing over the 00-- operating sprockets of the respective pairs, article holders connecting said flexible 'members, said structure constituting a dispensing unit and removable as a unit from the casing, an operating I whichrthe rods pass to support the frame, means securing the frame against displacement with respect to the rods, said frame and the structure supported thereby being removable as a unit from said rods and from the casing, actuating mechanism separate from the frame, and a separable connection between one .of the sprockets and the said actuating means and rendered active and inactive respectively upon the inser tion and removal of' said frame from the cas securing the frame-against displacement with frame therein; spaced "sprockets carried by the ets, article holders connected with the con 'veyors, supporting rods carried by the casing, there being openings through the frame members through which the rods pass to support the frame, means securing the frame against displacement with respect to the rods, said frame and the structure supported thereby being re- .4. A vending machine embodying a casing, "a;

frame, endless conveyors passing overthesprockj movable as a unit'from said rods"; and from'the casing,actuating mechanism separate from the,

frame, a' separable connection between, one of the" sprockets and the said actuating means and rendered .active and inactive respectively upon. the insertion into and removal of said frame from the casingfclutch mechanism carried" by said frame, "and means for controlling the clutch atwill for renderingthe sprockets inactive with respect to'the said actuating means whenthe latter'is active,

- 5. A vending machine embodying acasing, a,"

frame thereinfspaced sprockets carried by' the i frame, endless conveyors passing over the sprock-" ets, article holders connected with the conveyors, Y

supporting rods carried bythe casing, there be- ,ing openings through the frame members through j which the rods pass to su port the frame, means respect to the rods, said-frame and the structure supported thereby being removable as a unit from said rods and fromsaid casing, actuating mech-l anism' separatefrom the frame, a'driving shaft, a separable connection between said shaft and said, actuating mechanism and rendered active and inactive respectively when said frame is in- V serted into and removed from said casing, means for connecting one of'said sprockets, with said shaft, and means for rendering said oonnection betweenthe shaft and sprocket inactive at will V 6. A vending machine embodying an'endless flexible conveyor, article holders connected with the conveyorthroughout its length for traveling movement therewith, a sprocket wheelvoverr which the endless conveyor passes, a shaft, a'ctuating means for the shaft, a clutchconneotion between said shaft and said sprocket wheel, and a 'controlling'handle for rendering the said clutch connection inactive to permit said sprocket :andsaid endless; conveyor to be freely operatedwhile the oonneotion between the shaft and the operatingmeans'remains active. 7 t

' ALFRED D .-ANTOINE.

ALBERT GEBERT. I 

